LANSING, MI - The Republican-led Michigan Senate has approved legislation that could eventually allow a wolf hunt in three areas of the Upper Peninsula, regardless of what happens with a pending statewide voter referendum.

The Senate approved Senate Bill 288 by a 25-11 vote Thursday along party lines. The legislation, which next goes to the House, would allow the state’s Natural Resources Commission to decide on its own what species could be hunted. Michigan’s current law requires the Legislature to designate a game species, which then gives the NRC permission to establish a hunt.

Critics including the Humane Society of the United States say the bill is an attempt to bypass a pending ballot proposal and take away citizen rights to vote on some types of wildlife issues in the future. The coalition, called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, wants to put its proposal to prohibit wolf hunting on the November 2014 statewide ballot. State election officials are reviewing the signatures collected by the group and could make a decision on its ballot status within a few months.

Senate Bill 288 no longer includes a spending appropriation – which means it could be the subject of a possible voter referendum in the future, if it were to be challenged.

If Michigan has a wolf hunt, it would be limited to three areas of the Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is recommending a hunt with the goal of killing roughly four dozen wolves total. The NRC could act on the recommendation next month, potentially allowing a hunt as early as this fall.

Supporters of a hunt say that current methods to combat wolves – including provisions that allow farmers to shoot animals they catch attacking livestock – don’t work well enough on their own.

Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, said wolves are causing problems and sparking safety concerns in Ironwood. He said people are "living in fear, where they no longer can let their children go play in the backyard without thinking 'should I or shouldn’t I,' because we know they’re there."

Casperson said he wouldn't be doing his job if he did not work to fix the situation.

"I simply tried to help citizens in my district," he said.

Opponents of wolf hunting say there isn’t a valid reason to hunt the animals.

The proposal has sparked debate about hunting rights and voting rights.

Critics say the Humane Society of the United States wants to erode hunting in Michigan piece-by-piece through referendums. The group was involved in a 2006 referendum that banned mourning dove hunting in Michigan.

The bill as substituted would not allow a hunt on mourning doves.

Sen. Morris Hood III, D-Detroit, said the bill is “clearly designed to do an end-around” on the effort to stop a wolf hunt.

“Let’s not make the will of the people an endangered species, too,” Hood said.

Casperson said the bill does reflect the will of the people because voters in 1996 chose to give the Natural Resources Commission authority to regulate hunting in the state.

The Senate also approved Joint Resolution S by a 25-11 vote, which would protect hunting rights in the state constitution. If the Legislature approves the measure by a two-thirds vote, it would be submitted to Michigan voters for their consideration.